What’s Your Holiday Personality? - Advice from a Psychologist
Letting go of old traditions doesn’t have to be sad or somber. It can provide an opportunity to clarify family values and create new traditions that are in better alignment with those values.
“Traditions anchor us. They provide familiarity and predictability, both of which have been in short supply over the past year and a half,” says Dr. Natalie Dattilo, psychologist and Harvard Psych Instructor. “Traditions give us something to look forward to, but, like many things, they occasionally need a reboot or even replacing.”
Dr. Dattilo shares an easy self-assessment for your readers to learn their holiday personality style to assess their relationship with tradition, allowing space for a healthy reboot if necessary.
When you think about the holiday season, what are the first words that come to mind for you? Family? Fun? Stress?
Next, how do you feel about the holiday season, honestly? (Not how you should feel about the holidays!) Do you look forward to them? Do you secretly dread them?
Finally, what’s your holiday personality style?
Traditionalists tend to value familiarity, routine, and predictability.
Celebrationists value spontaneity, people-pleasing, gift-giving, and merriment.
Connectionists value togetherness, tend to be social and extraverted, and can’t imagine why anyone would ever want to be alone during the holidays.